The Malemutes trailed by at least four points in every game, but came back to win 16-14, 15-9, 15-12.

"Each game we came back about four points," said Lathrop hitter Sarah Cleworth. "We get ourselves behind, but it gives us a lot more confidence that we can come back and win a game even though we are down."

Lathrop had its biggest comeback in the third game after the Crimson Bears started out strongly with a 7-2 lead. The Malemutes tied it at 8-8 during the service game of Ashley Hemphill, who did not give up serve until Lathrop built an 11-8 lead, a string that included four aces.

"Our serving game helped us come back a couple of times," Lathrop coach Jason Kersten said. "We had 12 aces during the match, including six in a row to bounce back into the (third) game."

Jill Brunner's block put Lathrop in front in the final game 14-10. Eight different players served at 14-12 until Victoria Kilgore finally ended the match on a tip kill.

Kilgore used her passing game to keep the Malemutes in the first two games. She finished with 29 assists.

"Victoria set an excellent game," Kersten said.

Juneau led most of the first game, building its lead to 10-6 before the Malemutes' service game took control for the first time.

Lathrop committed five service errors until Heidi Ruesch served five straight points for a 13-11 advantage. Kilgore, Brunner and Meagan Sharp each recorded a kill in the first-game comeback.

Lathrop stopped the Crimson Bears from serving game-point two times. Hemphill served points 15 and 16. Juneau was called for running into the net on game-point.

Juneau's biggest lead in the second game was 8-4. Lathrop tied it at 8-8 on a Sharp kill. Brunner started serve with the score tied at 9-9 when Lathrop put the game away with six unanswered points. Sharp provided game-point with her third kill of the game.

Juneau began play in the North Pole tournament today against West Valley.